Headlamp device



Patented Get. 27, 1925.

crms'rnn swimmer jrrrrsia'uno, KANSAS.

I HEADLAMP DEVICE.

Application filed blarch,3l, l 925. ;S :rifa1 No. 19,677.

To all'who m it may coiwem:

Be it known that CHns'rnnH. SMITH, ,a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the .county ofi Craw-iford and State of Kansas, has invented certain new and useful Improvements inI- Ieadlamp Devices, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to ahead lamp adapted to be worn upon the head ofthe user and being capable of ,a wide variety of uses.-

It is a primary purpose of. the inventionito provide a lamp of the character described having a wide range of adaptability as to the source of current supplyand including in its make-up, elements adapted .to be youergiZed either from the ordinary 110 volt lighting circuits, such ,as are commonly found in the offices of dentists, physicians and the like, or to be energized fronrth'e much lower voltage'of automobile batteries so that it may be utilized as atrouble light. In either case the construction is suoh that the light may be focused at the p'ointfwhere it is needed and neither the lamp nor the associated parts will heat up toisuchan extent as to burn or discomrno de either a patient or the operator coming into accidental con-tact therewith.

It is a further object of the invention to provide, in device of this nature, an vimproved means for adjusting the reflector with respect to the light bulb said means i being of such a nature that the reflector may be adjustedto properly focus'the light rays, with one hand, and will remain ,in such adjusted position without the manipulation of set screws or other fastening devices.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be .set forth in the detailed description which follows:

In the accompanying drawing:

l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the connections of the lamp. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the manner of mounting theglamp upon a head band. a

Fig. 3 is a detail View of a universal connection hereinafter described,

Fig. 4c is a partial longitudinal sectional view through the structure of Fig. 2.

numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of thedrawing. Referring to the drawing, 5 designates any suitable type of head band adapted to encircle the head of the user. y

A universal joint'bymeans of which the lamp may be bent at various angles and tipped to varyingpositions is formed by two spaced bars-6 and 7, which maybe drawn toward each other by screw 8. The lower ends of these bars embrace a ball 10 that ifs-carried by a plate 5, 'The upper ends of the bars 6 and 7 receive between them a ball 12, constituting .the terminal end of an arm 13, thelatter. constituting an extension of a sleeve 14, forming apart of a sock- :et member having bayonet slots 15 at one end for the reception of a light bulb 1.6 and bayonet slots 17 atits otherend for the reaception of lugs.18 ofa plug .19 of insulating material. A core 20 of-insulatingmaterial carries the pins 21 and 22 contacting with the terminals of the light bulb at one end and the terminals-23 and 2,4 of the plug 119. Electrical conductor-s 25 and 26 are connected to thecont'act points 23 and .24:

,and lead to a source of current supply as hereinafter described. An ordinary 6-8 volt incandescent bulb 16 of the type commonly employed in automobile lamps serves-asthe source of illumination andthe rear end of. this lamp is provided with laterally extend- 1s.

f the forward end of the socket member 14. This method ofholding a lamp in place is quite weltknown in the auto mobile. art and-needs no further description. Arefiector 28 is provided witha sleeve 29 that is coarsely threaded upon a cor-respondingly coarsely threaded sleeve 29 that is welded, soldered, brazed or otherwise secured in place von the socket member 14L. Thuslby rotating it, the reflector maybe adjusted with respeet to the bulb to focus the light .at the point where itis needed. This may be effected with .one hand and such focus will be maintained without attention upon the part of the user and without manipulating. set screws or other fastening devices. This is ofespecial importance in dental and surgical work because it renders it possible forthe operator vto adjust the position of the patient with. one hand while pins 16*,engageable in the, bayonet slots focusing the light with the other. Thus in dental work, for example, the patients head may be turned or tipped to the most effective angle, simultaneously with the focusing of the light.

In some classes of work, such as dental and surgical work, it is highly desirable to have the light focused upon a small area. In other classes of work it is desirable to have the light diffused in such way as to illuminate a considerable area. This is particularly true when using the head lamp as a trouble lamp in the repair of automobiles on the road.

As is best illustrated in Fig. 1, the connections from the head band and lamp to the source of current supply, comprise a connection substantially like the base of the bulb and indicated at 30. In other words this is a double contact connection to which the ends of conductors and 26 are connected, the opposite ends of said conductors being connected to terminals 23 and 24-. of plug 19. The connection is adapted to be inserted in any of the light sockets of automobiles, such, for example, as the dash light socket and when plugged in at this point, the bulb 16 receives its source of current supply from the storage battery of the auto-mobile and the head lamp may be used as a trouble lamp in working about such automobiles. In addition, however, I provide a complemental connection element to co-act with the connection element 30 and serving to connect the conductors 25 and 26 to conductors 3:3 and 34:, said latter conductors receiving their current from an ordinary 110 volt lighting circuit 35, through the medium of an interposed variable transformer 36 by means of which the current supply may be varied at will and the bulb 16 may be caused to burn brightly or dimly as desired.

Most of the head lamps on the market are of fixed focus and practically all of them are constructed to be used with the ordinary 110 volt lighting circuits only. In other words the voltage of the bulbs used is lixed and the source of current supply is such as to require the use of resistance elements which cause the lamp and associated parts to become so hot, that patients have frequently been painfully burned by accidcntly con'iing in contact with them. To the best of my knowledge I am the first to provide a head lamp operable on such low voltages, without the use of resistance elements, as to provide a cool structure which cannot under any circumstances burn either the patient or the user; one which will be capable of being focused to secure the best results. with one hand, and one which may be used either on a 110 volt lighting circuitor an ordinary automobile battery, or dry cell, circuit. ld hen used as an automobile trouble lamp, the device permits the free use of both hant s in working on the car, on the engine or 1n changing tires. The light is automatically thrown in the direction in which the eye or head turns.

I preferably make the reflector 28 of ground glass having its rear surface silver plated. However, the construction of the reflector may be widely varied, since for cheaper constructions I may use a pressed nickel plated sheet metal plate. lVhen the glass reflector is used I provide an aluminum backing 37 of metal to protect the same.

While I have referred to the lamp as being of value to the physician, it is to be understood that I include in that term dentists, obstetricians, gynecologists, eye, ear, nose and throat specialists, and all other having occasion to examine or treat living creatures.

I may employ a detachable connection 87 in the conductors 25 and 26 near the headband, so that the physician may, by disconnecting the conductors at this point, walk freely about the room with the headband and light on his head and without the necessity of carrying either the transformer or a long electric cord.

The conductors 25 and 26 are attached to band 5 by fabric loops I have referred to the band 5 as being of any suitable type, I preferably utilize the construction shown wherein a curved metallic plate 5" is suitably slotted as at 5 for the reception of a fabric web 5 constituting the body of the band. A buckle is included in the length of the band. This construction is not only very economical but it provides a structure that is light in weight and may be worn for extended periods without discomfort to the wearer.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

A device of the character described comprising a curved metallic plate having slot ted portions, a headband having threaded engagement in said slotted portions, a spherical element rigidly affixed to the headband, a lamp socket, an arm extending laterally from. the lamp socket and rigidly afliXed thereto and carrying a spherical element at its end, a pair of spaced bars having semispherical recesses in their confronting faces receiving the spherical elements of the lamp and plate respectively to constitute a universal joint, a reflector anda threaded mounting for said reflector with respect to the lamp socket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHESTER H. SMITH.

preferably 5". While 

